A school is ordering boxes of copy paper for its teachers. When placing their order, the paper company explains the pricing to them as follows. If they order no more than 1000 boxes, the company will charge them $35 per box. If they order more than 1000 boxes, the company will charge them $27.50 per box.

Which type of function would best model this situation: a step function or a piecewise function? Explain.

Question

A school is ordering boxes of copy paper for its teachers.  When placing their order, the paper company explains the pricing to them as follows.  If they order no more than 1000 boxes, the company will charge them $35 per box.  If they order more than 1000 boxes, the company will charge them $27.50 per box.


Which type of function would best model this situation:  a step function or a piecewise function?  Explain.